Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty

I haven’t completed the book yet, I’m just on page 90, but it’s a great read so far. I will admit it can be hard, reading about all of the injustices perpetuated against black women, but knowledge really is power. I’m hoping to go into nursing school next year and this book really does make you think about institutionalized racism and its lingering effects on policy and society. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history, racial and reproductive justice, feminism, or the medical field in general. For a book published in 1997 it still manages to relevant, even now.

Roberts, a Rutgers law professor, examines the sociopolitical reproductive history of black women--concluding this group did and still faces disparate treatment in public policy. The combined impact of race/ethnicity, sex and ecconomic status govern black women's relation to their own bodies--and treatment from policymakers and medical personnel.While this premise has been previously examined by other scholars, Robert's contribution differs in legal analysis of the state/women relationship specifically as it applies to black women. She also faults fellow feminists for their ignorance, silence, and apathy towards black women's unique reproductive rights.Begining with a critique of the predominantley white pro-choice movement for preoccupation with white middle class women and the assumption reproductive access means the same thing for all groups, Roberts holds black women's fertility is only valued if a predominantley white society can find ways to benefit from it.She also notes that illegal abortion took the highest tolls on low-income black women who were unlikely to have the financial and political clout of rich white women to convince doctors to perform theraputic abortions in secret. At the same time, abortion should not be the sole issue of a truly progressive reproductive rights movement because coercive sterilization and contraceptive programs are also painful incidents in black women's reproductive history.The pro-choice movement should oppose reccent 'welfare reform victories' because of the destruction such punitative measures have on black communities. Although most recipients were and continue to be white, policy debates were flooded with inferred images of the black "welfare queen" to foster and exacerbate racial and class tensions within the most conservative industrialized nation in the world.Because anything else repeats the very conditions she is seeking to eliminate, a truly progressive reproductive policy supports the rights of all women to control their own bodies. Not enough to perform "multicultural" outreach, all feminist reproductive rights groups must fully intergrate a multi-pronged, class concious approach into their mission statement and policy objectives.This book is an indispensible text for a social science course on reproductive rights, law, and/or social policy, but should be read by all who are concerned about securing freedom for all.

This book has taught me so much about the history of harming Black Women not only in the realm of reproductive health but in general. As a medical student, I feel as though this book is essential to my learning and have purchased it for other students and recommended it like crazy.Basically, none of this is taught in medical schools and I believe that our ignorance of this history is certainly contributing to the discrepancy in maternal death rates (3-4x higher in Black women). We have a huge problem in our country when it comes to the equitable care of Black Women and I know this book can help future physicians be a part of the solution and not the problem.

I read the original in college and not this is part of my Doula training in NYC. Incredible book with great history regarding black women in this country. It gives you a great picture of why Black Women continue to have poor health and maternal health outcomes in this country.A must read for anyone doing Obstetrics, birth work, midwives, doulas and community activist

This book is super challenging to read as I knew our system is not geared for women of color or disabilities but the book helped me paint a bigger picture of what systematic racism looks like. Highly recommend for people who work in the system.

I learned about this book on Instagram, so I decided to purchase it and I'm so glad I did. It clarified things I already knew and I learned so much more! But this book should be listed with the other patient ethic books. More ppl need to find this book!

Great book which is why I wanted to buy my own brand new copy for my collection but unfortunately it came with a bent/creased cover.

Roberts brings justice and revelation to the mythos behind black women's fear of not just the reproductive industry, but also the entire medical industrial complex. Heavy on the citations (which I love, but some may find tedious), Roberts painstakingly details the history of subjugation, denigration and ultimate elimination of reproductive agency perpetrated upon black women throughout America's history.

Not a easy read, also the print is quite small and dense, but it’s very important.

What a women and an instrument (brain) that has been put to good use. I haven't finished it as yet, I have a long way to go. With pencil in hand I continue the learning adventure.

Excellent book explining influence of Social Darwinism not a wonder racism is so pervasive

Amazing historical overview of medical and legislation discourses about the black body at play since slavery till the twentieth century in the US.